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Peninsular Thinking A conversation about Bremerton, Port Orchard, Poulsbo, Silverdale, Bainbridge Island, Kingston, Manchester, Seabeck, Southworth, Suquamish, Belfair, Keyport, Olalla, Bangor, Hansville, Indianola, Port Gamble, Allyn, Port Ludlow, Gig Harbor and every once in a while something about the good folks who don't have the good fortune to live here.

What’s the best way to eat a Twinkie?

News Friday that Hostess Brands Inc., would be liquidating
caused a
run on Twinkies at the Wonder Hostess Outlet in Bremerton.

Manager Jean Price said her entire supply of the familiar oblong
cakes with the pearly white filling was cleaned out by a single
customer shortly after she opened up. Other Hostess goodies, too,
were in high demand. All morning Donettes, Ho Hos, CupCakes,
SnoBalls and Zingers were flying off the shelves at a steady
clip.

“We’re all mourning,” said Linda Murphy of Bremerton. “I just
got the last cherry pie. Look, I can hand this down to my
grandchildren.”

You can read more about the closing of the outlet store, that
has operated off Kitsap Way (behind Burger King) since 1962 in
story to be posted soon at kitsapsun.com.

1919: Hostess CupCakes (yes, that’s no typo) become the
“best-selling snack cakes in history.” Not to take anything from
the CupCake, but I wonder if that was because the history of
commercially produced snack cakes was fairly limited at the
time.

The website goes on,” It wasn’t until over 30 years later that
baker Doc Rice added the signature 7 squiggles and vanilla-crème
filling.” Varieties eventually included Chocolate, Golden, Orange
and Strawberry.

1930: The Twinkie makes its debut. Invented by James Dewar (aka
“Grandpa Twinkie”) in Schiller Park, Ill., the Twinkie was inspired
by an ad for “Twinkle Toe” shoes. The treat sold two-for-a-nickel.
Production at one point reached more than 500 million Twinkies per
year. In 1999 President Bill Clinton included Twinkies in the
millennium time capsule.

1947: Hostess SnoBalls join the line-up. The original SnoBalls
were a white marshmallow and shredded coconut covered chocolate
cake. Three years later the crème filling was added. Soon after
SnoBalls were dyed the famous pink.

In the 1960s, other popular products were introduced, including
Suzy Q’s (1961), named after the daughter of a company executive,
Fruit Pies (1965), Ding Dongs and Ho Hos (both in 1967).

In 2007, the company bowed to the wave of anti-obesity zeal
sweeping the country, with the introduction of “100-Calorie Packs.”
Was this a good idea? You be the judge, but I say anyone in the
mood for a good Hostess high is not counting calories. This may
have been the beginning of the end for Hostess.

In 2010, Hostess followed with “better-for-you Smart Bakes line
of muffins and streusel cakes” with whole grains and fiber.

I rest my case.

To some, the preferred method for eating a Twinkie is breaking
it and licking the creme filling from either side. Some like to
squeeze the filling out, kind of like popping a zit.

Don Gonzalez of Port Orchard has a more manly style. “I just
shove it in,” he said.

How do you eat a Twinkie? And what’s your favorite Hostess cake?
Take our poll on the Kitsap
Sun.